The Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) is a simple—but general—format for exchanging all-hazard emergency alerts and public warnings over various kinds of networks. CAP allows a consistent warning message to be disseminated simultaneously over many different emergency warning systems, increasing warning effectiveness while simplifying the warning process. CAP provides a template for effective warning messages based on best practices identified through academic research and real-world experience.
The CAP initiative was endorsed by the national non-profit Partnership for Public Warning in 2002, which sponsored its contribution in 2003 to the Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) process. In 2004, CAP version 1.0 was adopted as an OASIS Standard. CAP version 1.1 was adopted as an OASIS international standard October 28, 2005.
OASIS is a not-for-profit, international consortium that drives the development, convergence, and adoption of e-business standards. The consortium produces more Web services standards than any other organisation along with standards for security, e-business, and standardisation efforts in the public sector and for application-specific markets. Founded in 1993, OASIS has more than 5,000 participants representing over 600 organisations and individual members in 100 countries.
For further information on CAP, please visit the following websites: